Vault-light or illumination-tile.



' mi. 629,191. Patented July la, |999.

- .L MARK.

VAULT LIGHT 0B ILLUHIKATION TILE.

(Application tiled Jan. 11, 1899.)

(llo Modal.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETOE.

JACOB MARK, OF NEW YORK, N. if.

VAU LT-Llfo HT OR ILL'U MlNATloN-TIL.

SPECIEICATIO lfoaming part of Leaesrateat No. 629,197, dated July18,1899. Application tiled January 11, 1h99. Serial No. 701,869. (NomodelJ' another constructionof vault-light embody' ing my invention, andFig. 3 is a like view showing still another construction.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the gures.

,The object of my invention is to providea construction of vault-lightor illuminating' tile in which the frame-joints can be made water-tightand kept so by making provision for expansion and contraction due tochanges of temperature, which will obviate injury to such joints fromthat cause, and to this end said invention consists in the vault-lightor illuminating-tile having the features of construction substantiallyas hereinafter specified.

In the carrying of my invention into practice I employ a construction ofvault-light or illuminating-tile which, generally stated, consists ofperforated platesA and A, having glasses or lights B and B applied tothe perforations, with cement o r concrete C placed in the spacesbetween the glasses, and a frame or support D, upon which the plates Aand A rest. As shown in Fig. l, I construct the edges of the plates Aand A sothat they will have interlocking or overlapping portions wherethey adjoin, forming on the edge of one plate a simpleupwardly-extending vertical flange E and on the adjoining edge of theother plate a vertical flange F, that is provided with a channel orgroove f in Vits under side, which sits over the flange E of the otherplate. The flange E does not it the groove in the iiange Fv closely, butan ample space is left between'the sides of the groove and the flange,as shown, so that relative movement of the two plates can freely occurwhen such move-l ment is caused by the expansion or contraction thereoffrom changes of temperature. The overlapping or interlocking oftheplates prevents moisture finding its way through the joint; but it isessential to the maintenance of a Water-tight joint'that provision bemade for Aexpansion and contraction of the plates. l

As preferably constructed each plate has on one edge the flange E and onthe opposite edge the grooved flange F. y

As shown in Fig. 2, instead of the constrnction'and arrangement offlanges shown in'Fig. l each plate may have a simple flange E on eachedge, that projects downward, not up-- ward, into a channel or groove,spaces being left between the sides of the latter and the flanges E andE and between the adjacent flanges of contiguous plates. The under sidesof the plates A and A rest upon the portions of the frame D at each side4of the grooves or channels therein. An advantage of such a constructionas is shown in Fig. 2 is that glasses or lenses can be placed over thejoint, and though, of course, no light will be transmitted through suchglasses the appearance of the cover or tile will be enhanced, as itsWhole surface willv present a uniform appearance. In Fig.,2 there isalso shown au'adaptation of the invention to a construction whereseveral really a combination in one structure of the two shown in Figs.l and 2, there being the upwardly-projecting and interlocking flanges `Eand F, (shown in the former figura) and `the downwardly-projectingflanges E and E,

(shown in the latter figure.) The same provision of spaces to permitlcontraction and expansion is made in this ,case as in the others.

If desired, the overhanglng portion of the flange F may. be omitted anda construction used that comprises simple flanges that project above andbelow the plate. v

It is to bennderstood that'any desired form of glass or lens may beusedin the plates, as

ythe form of glass or lens has nothing to do wi th the invention, andthe particular fornia- IDO tion of the plates may be varied as desiredso long as the characteristic features of my joint be retained.

I do not restrict myselfl to the use of my A invention in anyparticular' situation, as it is l one plate, and a groove or channel inthe other, the sides of the groove and the flange being separated byspaces to permit relative movement of the parts under changes oftemperature, substantially as and for the purpose described.

The combination of a frame or support, plates on the latter havingperforatlons with glasses or lenses thereover, cement or concrete in thespaces between the glasses, and a joint or joints formed by flanges andgrooves, or channels, the Walls of the latter and the iianges beingseparated by spaces to permit v relative movement of the parts underchanges of temperature, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.this 27th day of December, 1898.

JACOB MARK.

Vitnesses:

CHRISTIAN HENRY MLLER, JACOB L. MARK.

